Sunday 10 August 2008

Obasan by Joy Kogawa


At 250 pages this is not a big book, but the message it sends is huge. It is the story of Naomi and her family, and the treatment they received at the hands of the Canadian Government and their fellow Canadians during World War 2. Their crime was being of Japanese ancestry.
This book was first published in 1981 yet it still presents a vital and current message. Too this day, people around the world are being prosecuted as a result of their ethnic and religious roots. I remember being told that we study history so that we can learn not to repeat its mistakes. After reading this book that message comes through loud and clear.
If you want to read more fiction on this subject, I would suggest: "Snow Falling on Cedars" by David Guterson.
This book has been registered with Bookcrossing.com in memory of my dear friend Julie Ann Thorburn and will be given to another of her friends.
Orchidus' review at Epiphany

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I book crossed this one to Canadian Troops in Afganistan for a book drive of Canadian authors. Yes it was lovely but difficult.

Along the same storyline I read a short story by Terrence Rundle West in his collection called Run of the Town - Stories of an unfetterd youth and it is through the eyes of a boy who befriends a boy who lives in an old logging camp with his interned family.

Another lovely collection.

Kathleen

Kathleen Molloy, author - Dining with Death
www.diningwithdeath.ca
www.kathleenmolloy.offo.ca
www.lamortaumenu.ca
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